166su

My favorite moment was when Trump seriously declared he’s the greatest president in American history. Trump even proclaimed himself greater than the father of our country, George Washington, who fought for and won American independence.

Trump ranked Washington as the second best president in American history — after Trump, naturally. The chutzpah was off the hook.

For the most part, Virginia’s elected Republicans seemed bedazzled by the president’s modesty. They heaped praise on the speech — while Virginia Democrats trashed it as the most putrid political garbage they could imagine.

I asked readers to tell me one thing they liked about the address and one thing they didn’t, and urged them to give it a letter grade.

There was no shortage of replies, and those ran the gamut. I could not fit all the responses into this column.

“I liked that we saw that Elon Musk has a larger wardrobe than black T-shirts and sweatpants,” said Larry Martin, who lives in the Hollins area of 166su County.

“I dislike that it was just a typical Trump campaign speech with his usual falsehoods, and it was far too long. I watched over 90%, but I had to take the dog out to relieve herself and when I returned, to my relief it was over,” Martin added.

Stuart Schwarzer of Pulaski said he liked Trump’s “identifying of persons whom he wanted to spotlight. They were ‘just folks’ drawn from the 330 million Americans who had a story to be told.”

But Schwarzer said he didn’t like “the failure of Democrats who couldn’t bring themselves to stand and to applaud those who had been identified by President Trump.” Overall, he gave the speech a B+.

Fred Gianakouros of 166su County gave the speech a big fat ‘F.’ Gianakouros said the only thing he “loved” about last night’s event was the Democratic response, which he termed “coherent and logical.” He didn’t like that Trump “constantly uses false information and openly lies.”

Barry Nichols of Radford said the two best parts of the speech were “President Trump’s opening statement — America is BACK” and House Speaker Mike Johnson “throwing out the Democrat lunatic from Texas.”

Nichols said he disliked “the stupid Democrats behavior. It’s sickening to see these lunatics — they’re a disgrace to the country.”

Robert Sallada of 166su responded, “what I didn’t like is extraordinarily easy — Trump’s hateful and personalized manner and plethora of falsehoods, exaggerated accomplishments and grievances.”

Jami Poff, a retired schoolteacher in 166su County, wanted to answer my questions. But she didn’t watch the speech.

“I called three couples who have been our friends for over 50 years so you could have responsible and intelligent responses on the State of Union. None watched. Couldn’t. Wouldn’t,” Poff said.

“I’m even scared writing this to you,” she added. “We’re worried about Social Security checks and filing our tax returns.”

Others who replied that they didn’t watch include Kristin Peckman of 166su and Bill Philips of Salem.

“I purposely did not listen to Putin’s puppet speak,” wrote Philips. “Better for my health.”

George DeMestro of Christiansburg wrote: “I love reading your column. But I could not watch Trump. He just makes me and my wife MAD. I don’t see how people can defend him. When I see and hear his logic I want to move out of our great country. … to hear how our Vets are going to be treated upsets me.”

James Hardell of Blacksburg watched every second of the speech and gave Trump an A+.

“I liked the way he is handling the southern border/rounding up the criminal illegals and what DOGE has uncovered.”

When I asked for specifics of what DOGE has uncovered, Hardell was unable to list any. He referred me to Trump’s speech.

“It is amazing, no matter which side of the aisle you are on, that amount he and his team have accomplished in so little time,” Hardell added. “Especially ICE and DOGE.”

Al Hagy Jr. of Rocky Mount gave the speech a D-.

The most positive thing about it was “the introduction of several individuals who have suffered and are suffering. Strong examples!” Hagy wrote.

The most negative thing was all the spinning of facts Trump did throughout the speech, added Hagy, who also acknowledged Trump’s harangue put him to sleep after an hour.

Tim Janes of Vinton said he would give Trump a ‘B’ for the speech.

“I liked the fact that we are finding billions of dollars in wasteful spending and fraud of taxpayers money to foreign countries, some of which most people have never heard of and the major majority would not approve of.” He also cited “the fraud that is being discovered in SS, Medicare and Medicaid.”

I asked Janes for specific examples of waste, fraud and abuse in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. He failed to respond.

“I found it humorous that Trump rated himself a better president than George Washington,” wrote Leesa Shaw Sacra of Wirtz.

“It was nauseating that Elon Musk was lauded. Musk is taking a wrecking ball to agencies and programs that help those who need a leg up,” she wrote. “I don’t feel safe anymore. I worry about my family, and friends. We’re worried about our health care, our food, and environment.”

Teresa Richards of 166su County said she didn’t make it all the way to the end of Trump’s speech but would give the president a B+.

She liked that he singled out individuals for honors, and “I liked that he gave updates on what has been accomplished on his campaign promises. He has made good progress on some of the things he promised,” Richards said.

“I didn’t like that the Democrats were so disrespectful,” Richard added. “He was elected by the American people, and they should acknowledge that he’s done some good things. … My two senators do not reflect my opinion of our president, and I’m ashamed that they didn’t stand/applaud for anything that President Trump said or did.”

Jerry Moles, a friend and retired anthropologist in Raleigh Court, said he made it all the way to the end of the speech, “despite the steady stream of falsehoods and exaggerations.” Moles gave it no grade.

“At the end, my feeling is one of sadness, that our educational system has so failed the people that they have little understanding of the dynamics of government and economics,” Moles wrote.

Our final correspondent is Pat Barnes of Botetourt County. He wrote that the only thing he liked about Trump’s address was that it ended.

“His whole speech (well, at least the part I forced myself to suffer through) was a display of economic ignorance and total disrespect for the Constitution and our democratic form of government,” Barnes wrote.

“It will be a miracle if our country survives his ‘swift, unrelenting actions’ (actually ‘assault’ is a better description) against the rule of law and the Constitutional protections against presidential overreach.

“F would be a charitable grade,” Barnes added. “He shouldn’t be in the White House — he should be in the ‘Big’ house. … The President is an empty suit!!”